Group Unearths Part of Ancient University

This is one pulled from the archives, which I will be doing from time to time, consolidating from various blogs & listserves I have had over the years…

Originally posted in 2004, this is exceptionally useful info, though, for those close to Khemetic study, this is largely affirmation of what has been known. Please note the odd omissions & contradictions — they don’t mention who burned down the library at Alexandria; they claim this find is “first material evidence of the existence of academic life in Alexandria”, yet in the next paragraph, they acknowledge the existence of, what was then considered the most extensive library on the planet….

Still, it is of value to many….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 26, 3:00 PM EDT

Group Unearths Part of Ancient University

By MAGGIE MICHAEL
Associated Press Writer

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Polish archaeologists have unearthed 13 lecture halls believed to be the first traces ever found of ancient Egypt’s University of Alexandria, the head of the project said Wednesday.

“This is the oldest university ever found in the world,” Grzegory Majderek, head of the Polish mission, told The Associated Press.

The lecture halls, with a capacity of 5,000 students, are part of the 5th century university, which functioned until the 7th century, according to a statement from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

“This is the first material evidence of the existence of academic life in Alexandria,” Majderek said. Knowledge of earlier intellectual pursuits in the Mediterranean coastal city came through historical and literary documents and materials.

Ancient Alexandria was home to a library, which was founded about 295 B.C. and burned to the ground in the 4th century. Ruins were never found, but Alexandria was an intellectual center where scholars are thought to have produced the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, and edited Homer’s works.

The auditoriums were found near the portico of the Roman Theater in the eastern part of the ancient city.

All the lecture halls are of identical dimensions. Each contains rows of stepped benches in a form of semicircle and an elevated seat apparently for the lecturer, the Antiquities Department statement said.